Telegram-herald., 1887-07-24
fuckers TROUBLES
soYs MILITARY EXPERIENCE.
Refused Enlistment On ACCoont Of Deal
aoss he Returns Home Oniy 20 ae
Arrested fer Desestion, Court
Aartialed ana Impris0ned-
Death Endsd tits Trouble.

NoATaFoEr. July 4.-Iu 1875 Oscar
Tucker vas a sonevhat fragile youth OF Is.
an very deaf he vas living with MS sis
Ter. Ars. Z. T. Chase Al present Of this
p.4os. b.. a. that time Of Canyon Falls.
Alnn Mrs. Ceases husband Was in the
army sad her brother Vas the only man
abo4. lne farm. Although Oscar was IN no
way itted for The hardships OF a soldiers
life he hrss Of patriotism burned fercely in
bis youthful breast, OEd he lonSed for an
opportunity to distinguish himself in the
service OF bis country. Aware that bis
deafness would prevent his reception in the
army, DC struggled 10 conceal his indrmity.
and awaited an opportunity 10 enlist. This
cane ~ August. lsti3, when Henry BevIns
Of the Flrst Minnesota began raising 4 COM
pany to. Hslcns battalion. Beylps had
enlisted a. , tiaIa when he thought the
pomp and pagsantry OF wa would be as
holiday fr0iic, bat the frst battle OF Bull
kla completely dlssbased his mind of any
suc1 idea and ne hankered for the freedom
os tie private ciuLen.
inefe was Ont one way out OF the army.
and that be embraced. He was detailed as
recruiting osEicer. aad sent 10 organize a
fore. This company was organized simply
10 DO service on the frontier and quel. the
Sioux, ss it Was shortly aftsrthe Indian cut
break. and Il was uaderst )Od that the men
were not 10 20 sent south az all. Beyins
was anxious 10 make up his complement of
uer that DC might secure his commission
anu this be did by enlisting young Tucker.
This yOnng Dlsn, in company with others.
was sent 10 Fort Smelling FOR examination,
ana was rejected By Or. Kane the examin-
ing surgeon, on acccgnt Of physical disa.
biiity. bat as Tucker was very hSrd of hear
ing he failed 20 understand what the doctor
said, aud being told by Bsvins that he
had been accepted. supposed himself :
soldier and remained there tTO months. In
October the battalion was ordered 10 Fort
AoeIcrOmbie, ana young Tucker started
with the rest. but Tot bsns enrolled, no
saddle or Other military accoutrements had
been issued 10 him. and after ,wo days
weary marching ne became disgusted and
returned home
He remained with his sister until Janu-
ary 1854 when an officer from Fort
Snei ing arrested him on n charge of de
sefiOn - some mediiesOme cit zen had re-
ported bin as ieserter three times. The
company 10 which the boy was supposed TO
belong was St this time on the frontier, and
toe Tegimentai records were With the com
any, Tucker was then kept q prisoner
rrcm January until July when ne was
granted court martial. Gen. Sibley pre-
sid ng. Gen. Sihey and all others sup
posed the BOY % be a member OF the United
States service IS he did himself. and he was
Sentenced 10 forfeiture OF pay during the
time he hal been At home bar be had never
drawn any pay.
IN September Of the same year, Capt
Chase, young Tucker brother-In-law, hav-
inE rs-eniisted. went home on q veteran
fGr.ough. and - the sOiicition Of bis wife
went % 81. Paul 10 inierCede for the release
Of the by. About the first man be net
vas d.. Name. who had examined and re-
iec.ed nim when be attempted % enlist and
the facf OF his rejection was laid before Gen.
r q. DIN. Gen. Sibley's adlutant. Gen.
. DIN psomissd that be would see TO the im-
ne-afe release OF young EGcker. who vas
then a. Fort Smelling awaiting transfer 10
Fort A0ercrombie. Before tue order OF his
release could reach MIN, Tucker IN com
Dany with a number of recruits was sent on
20 Fo-s A5ercrOnl bic distance about 100
niles. Waen ne reached here the com-
mandaat OF Hatchs battalion Bevlns--
bad rssignec - soon as be g0i his commis-
Son told him y can make nothing of you
5ut a citizen with soldiers clothes on rs
your name does not appear on any of the
rtkilfi EfaL ftCDfLs- lie, therefore toulI
not be asst gned to any company. aud had p .
business in the fort. Hc was told how
ever lhat II be waited until spring he
coald be sent TO Fort Penina, where per
haps be a5u.d be mustered into the scrvice.
CiO.hi1z E1s rafions we're issued 10 hlEn
and be ~ mlifry futv. was subject D. 81
rul and rsgsbatsoos = garrison lIte.f sai
va 2 sol Ter 90 al in'ents and purposes.
sxcert "a ths mstisr Of pay. until Fsora-
arr whe1 VS. taken with malignant
ergsf 3ees sf & del.
Here vas a c-sss wherein a young man
xho bad never been enrolled bad been .Gs-
tsirei in the United States service from Au-
gust ls63. until Fear3ery. 1850. tried ~
court-maftisi for dssertiou, fopnd guilty.
and sent 70 he 'front.' - die withouts the
shadow Of right. These events occurred IN
turhuious times Of course, when minor
mattsrs rsceived bat little attention. bat
ersn al such times it would seem next %
imposi Die o. te1ain young man IN the
aralv Who had never heen enlisted.
Thsb0y wassffaii. delicate youth unused
10 the rigors snd hardship. Of hie ia = from
tier military camp and his death vas IN
doubteclv y caused oy the change TO which
he was subjected.
The fatasr OF the bov. who vss an only
sou il stiil living in Ohio. ard his sister,
with whom he vas Irving st the tiple Of his
attempted enlistment. Is living here. 10
attsrapt has ever oeeo made % collect pa7
sor toe ssfvi ice of the bow as his father. his
lerai hsir. - IN Independent circumstances.
though he ass frequently been urged - 10
il. LUFUA
+.